Articles

I am humbled and proud that the world has shown up and spoken up for our girls.

Just yesterday, in the midst of an international outcry against Boku Haram, 8 more girls were abducted in Nigeria.

How disgusting and despicable can these human beings be to prey on children, the most fragile among us.

Those who have committed and who continue to commit these crimes are not militia or warlords, as they would prefer to be called, they are cowards and they must be stopped.

Though this horrific kidnapping has brought this issue to national attention, this is not a new phenomenon.

For decades, girls and young women have been kidnapped and sold into slavery on every continent, including right here in America.

Voices have cried out for their protection and their safe return, but no one seemed to be listening.

But today, right now, everyone is listening and the world is watching.

This is not the beginning of the fight in the war to protect our girls and our young women and I promise it won't be the end.

I and Members of the Congressional Black Caucus and elected officials on both sides of the aisle will continue to raise our voices to say Bring Back Our Girls, protect our children, and stop those who have done this and gotten away with it for far too long.

I thank President Obama, Secretary Kerry and the Administration for offering our assistance to bring back our girls, and I call on the Nigerian government, African leaders and the international community to do everything we can to return these young women to their families. Now is the time to put an end to the trafficking of our girls and young women around the world.